The Southeastern Public Service Authority, which handles South Hampton Roads cities’ waste disposal, is closing in on a new provider to help improve recycling efforts for member cities, repurpose waste and prolong the life of the regional landfill. The SPSA board passed a resolution at its February meeting to finalize negotiations for a contract with Commonwealth Sortation, a process expected to take several months, according to SPSA Executive Director Dennis Bagley.
SPSA has spent a year requesting and reviewing several bids from alternative waste disposal services because of the closure of the WIN Waste plant,formerly known as the Wheelabrator facility, which burned 80% of the region’s trash for decades. The former plant also converted waste into steam energy for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Then, 30% of the ash left over was diverted to the landfill.
The plant’s closure resulted in added pressure at the regional landfill, prompting a need for alternative waste disposal that’s also more environmentally sustainable. So SPSA is now moving forward with Commonwealth Sortation LLC, a subsidiary of AMP Robotics.